Wire-stretcher.



No. 674,244. Patented May |4, |90I.

H McsEomaE WIRE STRETCHEB.

(Application tiled July 3, 1900.)

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III I I I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HAROLD MCGEORGE, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE ELECTRIC CONTROLLERAND SUPPLY COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

WIRE-STRETCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersfPatent No. 674,244, dated May'14,1901.

Application filed July s, 1900. serai No. 22,426.' (No man.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HAROLD MCGEORGE, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Cleveland, Ohio, have invented certain Improvements inWire-Stretchers, of which the following is a specification.

The main object of my invention is to improve the construction of wirestretchers or retainers, whereby the wire can be'stretched and securedprior to its being cut from the coil; and a further object of theinvention is to so construct the device that it will autol maticallygrip the wire in one direction and will allow for the free movement ofthe wire through the stretcher in the opposite direction until secured.

My invention is especially adapted for use in Stringing electric wiresin short lengthssuch, for instance, as on traveling cranes, dac.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a View showing my inventionapplied to the beam of a traveling crane. Fig. 2 is a view of myimproved wire-stretcher.' Fig. 3 isla longitudinal sectional view. Fig.4 is a section on the line 4 4, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a sec'- tion on theline 5 5, Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the wedge-shapedgrippers. Fig. 7 is a view showing a modilication of the gripping means.

A is a tubular carrier through which the wire 00 is passed. This carrierhas a tapered socket et on one end, and within the socket is the gripperor chuck B, consisting in the present instance, as shown in Fig. 6, oftwo tapered gripping-jaws b, having their inner parts serrated, so as togrip the wire x, as-

shown in Fig. 3. These jaws automatically hold the wire when the wire ispulled in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 3; but when the wireis pulledin the opposite direction they will free themselves from the wire.

The periphery of the carrier A is screwthreaded, as shown, and screwedonto the end of the carrier having the tapered socket a is a cap, whichwhen screwed up in contact with the sections of the gripper B holds thesections against the wire, making a positive fastening. By backing 0Ethe cap, however, the jaws will be free.

In order to adjust and attach the stretcher to a support and insulate ittherefrom, I

mount on the threaded portion of the carrier A two nuts D D', andbetween the nuts are metallic'washers d d, and between these washers andthe support E (in the present instance an angle-bracket securedoto abeam F, as in Fig. l) are sections of non-conductingv material,preferably washers 'L' t" and a sleeve 2, so that the support E iscompletely insulated from the carrier and the nuts. Thus 6o it will beseen that the carrier can be adj usted longitudinally on the support E.

In place of the wedge-shaped gripping-jaws B B, I may use balls b withinthe tapered socket, as shown in Fig. 7, or other device foraccomplishing the purpose of gripping the wire when -it is drawn in onedirection and allow the wire to freely pass through the vstretcher whendrawn in the opposite direction. 7o

The device is-operated asfollows: If it is desired, for instance, tostretch a wire along the beam of a crane, as shown in Fig. 1, twoangle-supports E are secured to the beam F at the proper distanceapartand a wire-stretcher attached to each support. The gripping-jawsare removed from one of the stretchers-that is, the one next the coil ofwire-and the wire is passed through this stretcher, then carried to theother stretcher and passed through it, 8c and then drawn in the oppositedirection, so that the gripping-jaws of this stretcher will grip theWire. The cap C is then turned, so as to hold the jaws against the wire.The jaws of L.the other stretcher are then placed in position and thecap screwed on, so that the jaws will allow the wire to be drawnthrough.

Then the wire is pulled taut by hand. As soon'as the wire is releasedthe jaws engage the wire and securely hold it. The cap can 9o then bescrewed down tightly, so as to force the jaws onto the wire and hold thewire rigid.

If it is desired to take up any additional slack,

all that is necessary is to back o the nut on the inside of onestretcher and turn up the nut on the outside, causing the stretcher tomove longitudinally in its support. The wire need not be cut until afterit isl tightened and the stretchers clamped, thus avoiding any chance ofwaste or misc'alculation as to the roo amount of wire required. Thus Iam enabled to provide a simple and efticient wire-stretcher to which theWire can be securely anchored or tightened without making loops ortwisting or bending the Wire in any Way, and the wire can be fed from acoil and cut oft to the proper length after it is stretched.

Vhile my invention is especially adapted for stretching electric Wires,and particularly those used in crane or short trolley Work, it Will beunderstood that this stretcher can be used for any purpose where it isdesired to grip and tighten Wire or rods.

I claim as my inventionl. The combination of a tubular carrier having ascrew-threaded periphery, gripping mechanism carried by the carrier forengaging the wire, nuts on the carrier, a bearing, and insulatingmaterial between the bearing and the nuts and the carrier, substantiallyas described.

2. The combination of a carrier having threads upon its outside surface,a tapered socket on one end of the carrier, grippingjaws mounted withinthe socket, a screw-cap on the carrier arranged tov bear against thejaws, a bushing on the carrier and means adjustable ou the threadedsurface of said carrier for retaining the bushing in any desiredposition, substantially7 as described.

3. The combination in a tubular carrier having threads upon its outsidesurface, a tapered socket in one end of said carrier, gripping-jawstherein, a screw-cap on the carrier constructed to bear against the saidjaws, a support having an opening made to receive the carrier,insulating material in said opening preventing electrical contactbetween the support and the carrier, and means on the threaded part ofthe carrier for holding the same to the support, substantially asdescribed.

a. The combination in aWire-stretcher, of a tubular carrier throughwhich the wire passes, means for automatically gripping the Wire andmeans for clamping said gripping means after the wire has been engaged,the body of said carrier having a screw-threaded periphery, a bearing,nuts on the screw-threaded carrier mounted on each side ofthebearing'and holding the parts of the device together, said nuts alsoserving as means for adjusting the carrierin the bearing, substantiallyas described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

HAROLD MCGEORGE.

Witnesses:

C. W. CoMs'rocK, W. A. JONES.

